GNPC – We Didn’t Finance Freddie Blay

The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) has stated that it never supported its Board Chairman, Freddie Blay, in his quest to become the National Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party.

The Minority in Parliament on Monday called for a “forensic audit” into the accounts and activities of the GNPC following the “vulgar opulence” of its board chairman Freddie Blay at the NPP delegates’ conference.

The Minority wants Mr. Blay, who was elected the National Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party over the weekend, to also “step aside as GNPC Board Chairman in the interim” for the forensic audit “to be carried out by an independent internationally acclaimed audit firm.”

Describing Mr. Blay’s actions before and during the conference as “gross misconduct,” the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs said in the statement that he is “unsuitable as the man to remain in charge of our oil and gas resources. Ghana is not safe.”

“The Minority hereby serves notice that if President Akufo-Addo fails to commission the requested forensic audit within the next two weeks, we shall vigorously explore other avenues within and without Parliament to seek redress and safeguard our country’s precious oil and gas resources,” Adam Mutawakilu (MP) Ranking Member, Mines and Energy Committee said in a statement.

But a statement signed by the GNPC Chief Executive, K. K. Sarpong, clarified that GNPC never supported Freddie Blay, adding that the “corporation has a robust financial system that will not allow any official to approve or receive funds to support programmes not set out in its work programme and budget that is approved by Parliament.”

GNPC in the statement added “Our records are there for verification anytime by anyone. We wish to let the public know that GNPC’s financial records are audited by Ernst and Young, one of the “Big Four” international auditing firms, which adheres to very high standards.”